Zaftig upsets Carolyn's Cat in Nassau County

Making amends for a fourth-place finish as the Comely favorite three weeks earlier, Zaftig ($11.60) rallied from off the pace to wear down odds-on Carolyn's Cat and win the Gradeo3, $208,400 Nassau County for 3-year-old fillies by 5 1/4 lengths.

Making only her fourth career start for trainer Jimmy Jerkens, Zaftig settled into good striking position under Jorge Chavez, as last year's Spinaway winner Irish Smoke battled with two-time stakes winner Carolyn's Cat through early fractions of 22.57 and 45.01 seconds.

Carolyn's Cat put Irish Smoke away in the upper stretch, but was quickly challenged from the outside by Zaftig, who struck the front in midstretch after six furlongs in 1:10.08. Zaftig kicked clear, timed in 1:22.74 for the seven furlongs over a fast track.

"I knew the favorite was the only speed," said Chavez. "I was hoping someone would go with her, and that's what happened."

Jerkens said the Grade 1 Acorn on June 7 is under consideration as Zaftig's next start.

Carolyn's Cat was clearly second-best. J Z Warrior, who raced widest, edged Ready for Fortune for third.

Meanwhile, trainer Linda Rice showed she remains queen of the turf sprints, saddling the winners of both six-furlong races on the grass Saturday, highlighted by a one-two finish from Mohegan Sky ($19.20) and Silver Timber for a $96 exacta in the $77,500 Music Prince Stakes.

Mohegan Sky, a 5-year-old mare making her first start since last September, came through on the rail with a strong late run under Alan Garcia to edge stablemate Silver Timber and eight other males. She ran the distance in 1:09.66 over "good" turf.

Earlier, the Rice-trained Tahoe Warrior ($20.20), also ridden by Garcia, split horses to win a $35,000 claimer in 1:09.67.